Battle of Uji (1221)

Third Battle of Uji
Part of the Jōkyū War
Date May, 1221 Location Uji, just outside Kyoto Result Shogunate victorious; Emperor exiled.
Belligerents
Kamakura shogunate and allies	warrior clans loyal to Emperor Go-Toba
Commanders and leaders
Hōjō Yoshitoki	Emperor Go-Toba

The third battle at the Uji River was the primary battle of the Jōkyū War in Japan. Bakufu forces led by Imperial regent Hōjō Yoshitoki sought to enter Kyoto and overthrow Emperor Go-Toba, using Uji and Seta as their gateways.

The Emperor's forces, alongside sōhei from Mount Hiei, attempted to make his final stand at the bridge into Kyoto, defending it from the Shogun's armies. The bakufu forces attacked the entire river line from Uji to Seta, and the Imperial forces stood firm for many hours. However, eventually, they broke through, scattering the remaining defenders, and opening the way into the city for the rest of their rebel forces.

As had happened twice before (see Battle of Uji), the bridge over the Uji-gawa proved to be a tactically crucial entryway into Kyoto, and highly defensible; but, as before, it was ultimately not defensible enough and the attackers crossed the river and killed their enemies.

References

• Sansom, George (1958). A History of Japan to 1334. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press.